Skip to main content

Made By A Fabricista: Let’s Make a Leather Bag

Hi Guys! I’m trying something a little different today.  We are going to make a leather bag.  I was looking around the Fabric Mart website for fabric for my next project and I came across Sue’s Pick.  The fabric choice for that day was this gorgeous black leather fabric. The best part was that the leather was only $20 a piece.  When I received it at home, I couldn’t believe how soft the leather was. I was in love.


First, we are going to make the pattern and then we’ll sew it up.  You are going to need a ruler, pencil, and scissors to draft the pattern.

Purse Pattern

Main Pattern Piece – Cut 2

1. Make a 14 x 16 rectangle.  

2. At the bottom of this pattern piece, you will cut a 2 x 2 square on each side.

3. At the top of this pattern piece, measure in 1” on each side and then measure from that point down to the corner of the cut-out square at the bottom. Cut that piece off.

Pocket Piece – Cut 1

4. Make a 7 x 10 square.

5. Go in ½” at the top and go down 3” on each side. Cut that section off.

Straps – Cut 2

6. Make a 2” x 32” rectangle. 

Cut all your pattern pieces and let’s sew!

Select one of your main pattern pieces to make it the front.  Find the center of your front pattern piece and edge your pocket piece leaving the top open.  Sewn down the middle of your pocket piece to make 2 pocket openings if you like.

With right sides together, use clips to hold your pattern pieces together and sew the 2 sides and the bottom using ¼” seam allowance.



Pin together the bottom corners and sew at ¼” seam allowance.

Turn your bag right side out.

Take your straps and fold them in half and edge stitch down the 2 long sides of the strap or you can glue them closed.  Mark 2 inches at the bottom of each strap and attach it the sides of the bag.  I used glue.

You are all done! You just made a leather bag.



How do you think I did?  I hope you like my bag just as much as I do.  Let me know if you ever get around to making this bag and make sure you keep your eye out on the Fabric Mart site for amazing deals.

Until next time!

JOHANNA @soveryjo  


Unfortunately Fabric Mart Fabrics sell out quickly!
You can find similar fabrics by shopping the following categories: LEATHER.

Comments

  1. This is great!!! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you Jazz. You inspired me to make a leather bag!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow! I love the bag and the shape of it and of the outside pocket. I think it gives it some “personality.” What type of glue did you use to attach the straps? Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fabulous bag. This is the first time I recall a Fabricista sew something with Fabric Mart leather. I have purchased so many garment weight leather skins, both smooth and hair on (shearling etc.) from FM over the years. They are always great quality, unique textures and colors, and when they are on sale, the heck with my budget.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for leaving a comment! All comments are reviewed before posting to help us eliminate spam. Your comment will be posted within 24 hours.

Popular Posts You Might Like

Made By A Fabricista: Celebrating warm weather with Spring sewing!

Hi sewing friends! I don’t know about you but boy, was winter cold and dreary this year! The weather here in the Philadelphia area has been slowly improving, but Spring sure did take her sweet old time to arrive. So by April, I was definitely in the headspace of needing to sew up things that were either bright and cheery or meant for the warmer weather I am very much craving right now. I recently purchased a few SewBexx Patterns so I took them on a test run to create some Spring makes. First on my list was to make a top using this absolutely gorgeous ITY fabric I picked up last year. I had two yards which was enough for a long sleeve shirt. I chose the Olivia top, which is oversized with a drop shoulder, has multiple lengths and a split hem. I think the pattern is intended for heavier fabrics but I was envisioning how lovely this top would look with the drape of ITY knit fabric, and it did not disappoint. It came together for me quickly and was a straight forward sew…and I love the br...

Made By A Fabricista | Chasing Time: My White Rabbit-Inspired Look for Atlanta Frocktails

For this year’s Atlanta Frocktails, I found myself captivated by a character who’s been quietly tugging at my imagination for years—the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. There’s something so relatable about his frantic energy, always checking the time, always running late. While he’s worried about being on time, I’m usually calculating how late I can be and still technically arrive on time. Spoiler: I’m often wrong. It’s a cycle of procrastination and anxiety that I know all too well. So when I imagined my look for Frocktails, I thought—why not honor the White Rabbit? After all, time has been chasing me too. But this look isn’t just about Wonderland whimsy. It’s also deeply inspired by this year’s Met Gala theme, Tailored for You, which includes a focus on Black Dandyism—a celebration of Black elegance, intellect, and expressive style. I’ve been obsessed with this theme since it was announced. As a Black creative, I find it powerful and moving to see style used as a way to reclaim...

Made By A Fabricista: Getting into the Spirit of Summer

I'm not gonna lie y'all, I had a completely different project I wanted to do, but that's gonna take more time, and I wanted something cute, comfy and fun to wear for my birthday on the 19th. When I saw this goldenrod & off white linen jacquard , I thought it looked a bit like the design on a Koroks body, especially Makar from The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker! I started with the bodice from the free Elderberry dress pattern from Mood, but deviated for the skirt, it felt a little plain of a design, and I had scraps of a Korok fabric that I knew would be a nice accent with some cut out pockets. I've made these pockets once before, deciding the cut out was based on aligning with the seam on the bodice for how far in, and as for how low depended on where I wanted the pouch of the pocket to start. From there I cut the visible part of the pocket, making sure to match the curve of the waist and following the line of the side seams of the skirt, as well as cutting a facing to...